Method of preventing tangling



Jan. 13, 1931. CQWLES 1,789,272

METHOD OF PREVEILITING TANGLING Filed Oct. 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Jan. 13, 1931 UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE EDWIN COWLES, OF SHORT HILLS, JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T COWLESENGINEERING CORPORATION, OF SEWAREN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY METHOD OF PREVENTING TANGLING Application filed October 14, 1927iSerial No. 226,094.

This invention relates to methods of agitating liquidsin which aresuspended fabrics or other solid bodies or articles which aresusceptible of tangling while in suspension.

In my previousPatent No. 1,545,082 issued July 7, 1925, I have describedand claimed a method of agitating in which a jet of liquid is introducedinto a chamber at relatively high velocity in order to cause the liquidand the fabrics suspended therein to circulate about the chamber, and inorder to cause circulation of me liquid about and through all parts ofthe fabrics held in suspension Such mechanisms as are illustrated in theaforementioned patent may be employed to secure agitation herein,although, as will appear hereinafter, this invention is not limited tothe use of such means but is applicablejo suspension circulate about acentral point as an axis, a tendency is sometimes observed for thefabrics to roll up into a wad or ball in such manner that eventually theseparate pieces become tangled and snarled together. 5 lVhen thiscondition develops the fabrics do not circulate properly and the waslungaction does not proceed as rapidly as would other wise be the ease, forthe liquid fails to circulate through the fabrics in the interior of theto wad. i

In order to overcome this difficulty, I propose to cause the liquid tocirculate in the container in such manner'that at some place therein anarea will be provided in which the liquid is substantially stationary,and in which the liquid on either side of said area iscaused to move inopposite directions along substantially parallel lines.

- \Vhen circulated in this manner it is found that parts of the fabricsproject into the stationary area and even across the stationary areainto the liquid which is moving in the opposite direction with theresult that there is a constant tendency to pull the separate piecesapart instead of to roll them together.

A preferred embodiment of apparatus suitable for accomplishing thisresult is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view, with arrows to indicate the approximatepath of the liquid.

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of amodified form, and

Figure 4. is a side elevation of the form shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, the tub or container 1 is preferably ofelongated rectangular shape for by using such shape I am may be drivenby anysuitable source of able to effectively secure the desired resultsi power, as for example, an electricmotor 2.

The liquid in theitub circulates about the tub in'the general directionindicated by the arrows, thus forming an area 3 in the center of the tubwhere the liquid is substantially stationary. area the liquid ismovingin one direction while on the other side of the said area theliquid is moving in an opposite direction,

On one side of this stationary the result being that whenever thefabrics in suspension move into 0' across the stationary area, themotion of the liquid tends to stretch out the separate pieces of fabricthus separating them and preventing tansuspended in liquid moving in anopposite direction. As a result of the pull in opposite directions thepiece will eventually be drawn out to a shape similar to the piece 5. Aswill be apparent, if two or more pieces are tangled together wheninserted in the tub the action just described will eventually separatethem and cause them to circulate separately.

'lhis eparating or untangling action is aided also by the'fact that theliquid along the outer sides of the tub is moving more 'a'pidly than theliquid in the interior of the tub. This difference in speed results in atendency to stretch out ,or pull apart fabrics which may be wadded ortangled, so

that the individual pieces may circulate separately.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a modified form of the. apparatus in whichthe tub, instead such that a substantially stationary area 'is providedalong which the liquid moves in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification thistenth day of October, 1927.

EDWIN CQIVLES.

of being wide and relatively shallow as in Figures 1 and 2. is narrowand deep. In this form the liquid circulates in a vertical plane andastationary area 3 is formed which serves tof assist in untangling thepieces of fabric in the manner previously descrihed.

It will be understood that the invention maybe variously modified andembodied within the scope of the subjoincd claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method ofpreventing tangling of solids ghilc"suspended in liquidwhich comprises directingva su-lnnerged jet of liquid in a. rontainer ina direction substantially parallelto the surface of the liquid in suchmanner as to cause the solids and liquid to circulate in an elongatedpath such that a substantially stationary area is provided along whichthe liquid moves in opposite d l reetions.

E2. The, method of preventing tangling of solids while, suspended inliquid which con)- prisescausing the said solids and liquid to circulateWithin an elongated container by means of a submerged Jet of liquiddirected substantiallyparallel to one side thereof and substantiallyparallel to the surface of the liquid whereby the liquid and solids onone side of the container have translatory motion With respect to theliquid and solids on the opposite side of the container.

3. The method of preventing, ta'nglin'g of solids while suspended inliquid which com-

